Friday, 29 March 2013

Create a plan to visit your nearest library. You can search for titles online or you can take bit more time and wade into the fiction section with a plan to read the backs of as many books as you can. When you find a good choice you make a commitment to invite that book into your life for a short period. It may change how you think or how you see the world. After translating words to thoughts your imagination will alter cells in your brain and you may never be the same person again. If you are part way into the book and it is not working for you, put it down. There's no shame in grabbing what you can from a book and moving on to another story.

Thursday, 28 March 2013

We are well aware of how we can manifest the smallest problem into a large issue. Well we are just as skilled at taking a small victory and exploding it into a winning battle cry. At the last bout of winter you may hear the song of a bird. That small gesture from one of nature's beautiful creatures signals the coming of spring. The coming of spring means warm sun on your face, the smell of fresh cut grass and my personal favourite, music festvals. Practice this with a small bonus in your day. Ask, if this little miracle is true, what else is possible until your mind is swirling in a bright dream world. We all deserve good days, let in as many good feelings as you can.

Wednesday, 27 March 2013

We spend a lot of our day in fourth gear, flying from one task to the next. But in this fast paced lifestyle we tend to forget things, make mistakes and sometimes we flat out trip ourselves. Shift your brain to an idle gear and do tasks such as filing, organizing, and creative imagery to plan for future tasks. This allows the blocked thoughts to become free, so keep a pad of paper beside you to capture flying random ideas. This not only allows you to slow down and to think of plans to help you move forward, but it also helps you to reset, to fuel you up before another mega tasking spree.

Tuesday, 26 March 2013

Making mistakes is human. It happens all the time. We may leave our car light on and drain the battery, we may wash delicates in the regular wash cycle or burn the garlic toast. Why do we often allow these small situations to create self-loathing and frustration? Chidlren rarely harbour guilt or upset feelings over mistakes they have made. Hitting their sibling, spilling milk on Mom's phone or getting dirty hands on clean window drapes has the instant reaction of negative emotion, then minutes later, the thought disappears, never to be brought up again. Like water of a duck's back, they face their mistakes and move on. When did we move away from this blank screen approach and instead fill our thoughts with should have and could haves untill our stomach feels the stress we've put it under. Be gentle with yourself, move onwards and upwards.

Monday, 25 March 2013

Water is life. Without it we can only survive for a few days. In developed countries water comes flowing clean directly from our taps. We are so blessed to have this resource. Celebrate water today by going swimming and delight in the playful aspect of water's healing abilities. Stand under the warm stream of your shower and say "thanks water". Drink a glass of crystal clear ice cold water and feel it sending good vibes into all your cells. We may think about it as often as we think of breathing, but water truly is our life's blood. Enjoy and celebrate!

Sunday, 24 March 2013

Corpse pose. This healing act with the body on the ground, palms up beside the hips and feet splayed open can take a day of stress and let it melt away. But what if we could take this pose out of the yoga studio and perhaps into nature? Find a picnic table under a big tree, crawl up and lay down giving thanks for the sun on your face. Find a fresh patch of snow and lay your body down on the cool ground, being the first shape to touch the fallen white flakes. If you're lucky enough to have green grass, choose a perfect location and surrender your body to the ground. Focus on the air leaving your body and coming in. Be one with mother earth. Give thanks for gravity and light and fresh air to breathe.

Saturday, 23 March 2013

It's time for a fun activity. You deserve it. Take $20 and head to your nearest thrift shop. Give yourself a good hour or two to really sift through all the treasures. Reusing items is a fantastic way to respect the planet and you're supporting organizations that may do some charity work. It's a win win for everyone involved. To make it even more delightful, bring a friend. You can examine each others findings and do a bonus high five.

I found a stuffed frog and fish for an educational art display I have for work. And all under $10!

Friday, 22 March 2013

How amazing does it feel when, out of nowhere, someone treats you special for no reason whatsoever? Their kind act leaves you beaming with love and light. A cupcake shows up on your desk, your driveway is shovelled, your coffee is paid for by the person in front of you in line. Wow. The world is a better place for those brief moments. What if you pay it forward to someone else? Spread the light to others and lift as you climb.

Thursday, 21 March 2013

We are all like buds connected to a giant vine. We think we're so separate but deep within there are many strands that connect us. Explore your community. Speak to a neighbour, go to a talk on an issue you enjoy, sit with your co-workers at lunch, or smile at the person running past you on the trail. The more you can light up each bud on this big vine, the brighter and more open our own bud becomes because we are strengthening the plant...or the planet...

Tuesday, 19 March 2013

Movement to music. Allowing your body to twist and turn, reach and drop, rise and fall allows the blood to flow around in a unique pattern that is far different than sitting down in a reclined position most of the day. Music has healing abilities that can alter the chemistry of our brain and when we move to music we are re-enacting a cultural tradition that's occured for thousands of years. Connecting to our core spirit in a primal way.

So what kind of dance is good dance? Any dance. Morning dance parties in your PJs, car dancing on the commute to work, blues club dancing, ballroom dance, tai-chi, Zumba fitness, or kundalini dance (my personal favorite, google it), a personalized rythmic movement with breathe and sound that connects and energises our seven chakras. Dance it out!

Monday, 18 March 2013

Anytime we can squash the negative charges that somtetimes plague our body, the better. We all want to live a happy, hopeful and peaceful life, right? This task will take some serious metal will, but see how often you can flex your positive thinking muscle. Guy cuts you off in traffic, "He must be in a hurry, not my problem". A lady has 15 items in the 12 item line, "That's not a big deal". A coworker questions your ideas at work, "They think differently than me, I know it's a great idea and that's ok". See how many potentially negative situations occur in your day and practice turning them around. I would love to hear what you discover.

Sunday, 17 March 2013

Nature can inspire us. The sight of a waterfall flowing around ice and snow covered rocks into a lake as smooth as glass can take your breath away. Feeling the sun on your face as you watch unique clouds pass by your vision can be healing .Hearing the scrunch scrunch of freshly fallen snow beneath your feet can rock your body into a place of calm. Can you find a way to let mother nature touch your life today? Purchase a plant for your office, find a picnic table outdoors to stop and read from your book, book a trip to the mountains or ocean. Healing is all around us, we just have to let her in.

Saturday, 16 March 2013

We have high expectations of ourselves. It is only natural. But sometimes these high expectations may bring with them feelings of guilt, shame or frustration. Life is to short to ever feel those emotions so we have to do what we can to manage them. Over the next few days try to be a little more gentle with yourself. You ate an extra helping at dinner, so what? You were late leaving work and missed your fitness class, so what? You chose to wait another few days before vacuuming the house, so what? Treat yourself with kindness and don't mind the little things so much.

Friday, 15 March 2013

"Why can't we see the sweet things until they're all gone?" Singer songwriter Danny Michel wrote these profound words. There are times in our lives when all the world seems to be going right and we take for granted that we happen to be really lucky in that moment. Until it's gone and then we miss the past. This can apply to your body - love it now because it may change in the future and you'll look back on this time and say "wow". It could be family, you may have started a relationship again with a sibling. Be grateful for this. Celebrate it. You never know when your luck might run out. Don't be scared for the future, but celebrate the good that's happening now.

Thursday, 14 March 2013

Here is your mission for today. Give at least three people high fives today. Everybody loves high fives, they feel amazing. Maybe you're out buying groceries and you say to the cashier "$0.50 off dishwashing detergent. High five!" Perhaps you are at work and you say to a co-worker "It's a sunny day outside today. High five". Or maybe you are at the gym and you exclaim to the person next to you "35 minutes on the elliptical. High five." I would love to hear how creative you were with your high fives today. Good luck and God speed.

Wednesday, 13 March 2013

Parents. As small children they are our heroes, and no one on Earth could be stronger or smarter than them. As teenagers, we think we know so much more than they do, and sometimes we think they're un-cool. As adults it is so important to connect with our parents and learn a little more about them as people. What are their hopes, dreams? What of their past do they wish they would have changed? Which people mean the most to them and why? Sometime today contact at least one parent or a person who fills a parental role for you, and tell them how much they mean to you. Sounds hard? Sounds simple? Just give it a try and see how you feel.

Tuesday, 12 March 2013

The more we can can add knowledge to our brain, the more our world will make sense to us. Try to find out where your water comes from and where it goes for treatment. Water is an essential need and to truly value it we have to understand its journey into and out of our lives. What about waste? Do you know where your waste goes? Does it head to a landfill to be buried and not decompose or does it arrive at a composting plant to be recycled? Ask as many questions as you please. This is your brain armed with fresh knowledge. If you already know the path that water and waste take, could you tell a friend or co-worker and enlighten them? Spread the "k"!

Monday, 11 March 2013

Animals may appear to be completely different species from our human race, but we are still connected. Animals worry about survival and family well-being. They don't read books, gamble, or wear clothes. They do listen, feel and protect. Is there an animal you could spend time with? Maybe stop by the pound and offer to walk the dogs, post a fuzzy animal photo on your desktop, or fill the bird feeder in the park by your house. Find a way to connect with the other species that share our home planet with us. You may actually learn something new about yourself.

Sunday, 10 March 2013

We don't always feel in the mood to sport a giant smile for all the world to see. But just as we try to eat better and become more active, we can also increase our smile time. Smiling, even if it's fake can allow positive messages to be sent to our brain creating a chain reaction that sometimes can even lead us to smile genuinely. Practice your smile while driving, in a fitness class or watching a concert. Smile at the grocery store cashier, smile at your co-worker, smile at your cat. The more we practice this instant mood lifting technique, the better we just might feel.

Saturday, 9 March 2013

We of course love to do things we enjoy, but what about trying on someone else's most loved activity? Maybe your relative likes to paint, grab an easel and allow your hand to flow in sync with theirs. Maybe a friend likes to walk but travels at a slow pace, try matching their footsteps and letting them know they are moving fast enough. Perhaps your partner enjoys silly reality shows, could you possibly give up an hour of your day to make comments that bounce back and forth with your lover?

Friday, 8 March 2013

Our reflection of oursevles can be skewed with self-doubt, misconceptions about our bodies and disappointment or frustration. Ask others what they think of you. Their vision of you is genuine and hopefully honest. Being looked at through someone else's eyes might bring us to understand our true worth and that we are more perfect and whole than we imagine ourselves to be. Honour this reflection and give thanks for its kind truth.

Thursday, 7 March 2013

Take a wee nap. You are worth it. You deserve a little relaxation time. Thinking of taking a long soak in the tub? Why not. When is the last time you treated yourself? Napping is not for lazy people, it's for people who believe in self-care. If your body and mind need to slow down, why fight it? We are fragile beings who need to re-set every now and then, so try to avoid pushing your to-do list past the feeling of exhaustion and take a breather. Rest. Restore. Renew.

Wednesday, 6 March 2013

The natural world can provide our lives with so much beauty, but when is the last time you set up a date in your calendar to watch the sunset? Maybe you're driving home from the office or at home making up some dinner, but as the sun sets and pinks and golds and reds cover the sky, look up and give thanks for being able to witness such a sweet scene.

Tuesday, 5 March 2013

One place we can always improve control in our lives is with our finances. Is there any way to consoldate debt? To ask for an interest rate reduction? Pay money to a friend for outstanding debts? Making a simple phone call or to may allow stress to be released from your shoulders. A good friend of mine recently took these tasks on and she is beaming with pride now. I am so proud of her. Are you ready to tackle your finances?

Monday, 4 March 2013

Blood is thick. It connects to other human beings in a unique way that can't be replicated. We may not always get along the best, but there is this cord that ties families together. Take some time for family this week. How about a games night or time out for coffee? Sharing with family members might bring new insights that you couldn't get from friends or your own brain. Explore. Live. Love.

Sunday, 3 March 2013

What I have could be a messageOr just some words from my heartMy respect to the ones making changesFor all the lives they'll give their allLike giving food to the hungryGiving hope to the needyGiving life to a baby, giving care for free'Cause there is freedom around usWe have everything we need and I will care for you'Cause you care for meAnd we all have opinions, some of them get throughBut there's better people with more good to do, good to do

Saturday, 2 March 2013

Rushing, rushing, rushing. It can make us tired, wear us out. Spend some time in your day unwinding. Grab a book, take a nap, lay low away from the chaos of a frantic pace. This is not laziness, it's self care and it's finding balance. Watch some of your most successful friends. What do they do to find the quiet once again in their lives? Maybe they bake, or skype with friends, or meditate. Find out what works for you and begin the relaxation phase.

About Me

The natural world provides us with amazing gifts that we often become disconnected from.
My wish is to guide each person to see the best within themselves and to see that the beauty in our natural world is strongly connected to our happiness.